A/N: Hey everybody! Sorry I haven't updated in FOREVER. I've had major writer's block. In fact, I was considering discontinuing this story. BUT: I got an idea this morning when I was eating breakfast. And then… This happened. So: This story WILL be continued now that I know where I'm going with this story again. (I think) I apologize for any errors, this was typed in a bit of a hurry. Had to get it out before the relatives came over. Merry Christmas everyone! And a happy New Year!

Chapter 11: Christmas Surprises

Rei's P.O.V

I stared at him for a second. With a wince, I shook my head.

'I'm sorry Mateo. I really am. But it's a secret that isn't just mine to share. And it's not something you need to hear. Just…know that I really wish I could tell you.' My fingers were a blur as I signed him my message. He gave me a sad look.

"Oh well. Just let me know if there's anything I can do ok?" He said, shining smile lighting up his face. I nodded in reply. Then, a thought dawned on me... I grabbed his hand and yanked him out of the school, heading home. Kyo had to leave school early because he had an appointment with Hatori.

"Rei? Is this your house?" We stood in front of Shigure's house. And I was just stood and stared. The usually shabby house of my overly emotional annoying cousin was decorated with wreaths, flowers, mistletoe, and lights in all shapes, colors and sizes. The doors were covered with little stain the glass creatures. I gave a smile. And then a silent dance of excitement. Mateo watched on in amusement.

"Rei, is that you?" Shigure pranced out of the house, wearing a red and green striped robe. I burst into silent peals of laughter. He looked ridiculous. "Who's your friend?" The dog of the zodiac raised his eyebrows meaningfully at me. Shooting him a dirty look, I pushed Mateo forward before signing the word 'friend' at Shigure. Disappointment was evident on his features. Mateo saw this and winked at me. Rolling my eyes, I tugged him into the house. Dashing quickly under the mistletoe before anyone saw it, we came to the living room. Kyo was sitting on the sofa staring with disgust at the Christmas decorations. Obviously the excessive amount of blinking lanterns was starting to get on his nerves. Taking off my shoe, I chucked it at my brother's head. He fell off the couch, with caused Mateo to explode with quiet laughter.

"Why is he here?" Kyo signed to me. Smirking slightly, I answered him.

'He's visiting for Christmas! So be nice!'

"Fine. But Haru and Momiji are coming over too. So make sure he knows what he's up against. You did make sure Shigure knew he was coming right?" I answered in the affirmative. Yuki came downstairs at the same time. With a quick jerk of his head he looked between me and Mateo. His violet eyes seemed to stare at me for a moment as if trying to read my thoughts. Then with a silent sigh, he called up the stairs.

"Honda-san, where are the placemats? We have an extra person joining us."

"Oh!" Tohru's surprised and happy voice flowed from upstairs. "Is it Ritsu-san after all? I thought Shigure said he wasn't coming!" The sound of footsteps sounded in my ears, and then Tohru appeared, holding a box overflowing with ornaments. She dropped the box as she tripped down the stairs, in a true Tohru fashion, but caught herself on the railing. With excellent reflexes, Yuki threw out a hand, catching the ornaments quickly, dropping not a single one. This all happened while Mateo and I looked on.

Mateo's P.O.V

Rei's house is strange. Her cousins, are interesting people. (I think they're all her cousins. Kyo may be her brother. He looks kinda like her.) The cousin who owned the house, Shigure, is well…loopy. He was dancing around singing random songs that I swear he was making up off the top of his head.

"Is he insane?" I asked Rei quietly. She nodded solemnly.

'Positively bonkers.' Well. That was comforting. Good thing my parents aren't home waiting for me. Rei and I were sitting on the floor leaning against the back of the sofa, watching Shigure dance and sing. Next to Rei, sat a little girl. Rei had said her name was Kisa. Kisa had apparently been bullied for her eyes looking different. And as a result, she had just stopped talking. She talked now, but not a whole lot. Only to Rei, Haru (Which surprised me tremendously-but he acted like her big brother), and a boy named Hiro, who seemed rather rude. But I could see the way he looked at Kisa as she leaned against Rei while my mute friend brushed her short honey-bronze hair. He stared at her as if she was the earth and sky. Across the room, three people sat.

A tall, dark haired man with a serious face was rolling his eyes. It looked like he was resisting the temptation to throw something heavy at the idiot prancing in front of him. He was the Sohma family doctor, Hatori. He was a Sohma himself. The man who had previously occupied the seat next to the impassive doctor was dancing with Shigure. His hair was long but as silver as Yuki's. He wore a red shirt and pants with white snakes on the cuffs. He was loud, obnoxiously annoying, and had the ability to make numerous people want to hurt him in various ways. He was Yuki's polar opposite, as well as his older brother. Apparently there had been a large rift between the brothers and while Ayame (The silver haired prat) seemed intent on resolving the gap, Yuki was anything but willing. The looks he gave his brother were deadly. If I hadn't seen the flicker of pain in Ayame's eyes every time Yuki insulted him, or treated him coldly, I would have thought the man a complete dunderhead. As it was, I only thought him partially oblivious. A boy with blond curly hair was seated near Hatori, on the other side of Ayame's empty seat. He had sparkling blue eyes, and acted like a child though Haru informed me that he was actually in the same grade as the rest of us. Though he acted like a little boy at times, the bunny-like boy looked at others with eyes that looked older, and more serious than his outer persona. None of the Sohmas were quite what I would think to expect.

Sitting on the couch behind us, but never the less looking at the spectacle that was Shigure, were Kyo, Yuki, and Haru. The tall punk-rock looking boy seemed to be rather out of it. He kept staring at the wall, but whenever he looked at someone else, it was as if he was looking at someone totally different. I wondered what was wrong.

Rei seemed to follow my thoughts. Snapping her fingers in front of his face, she pursed her lips, worried. Haru (Hatsuharu) jerked out of his reverie and gave us a reassuring smile. We were all relaxed, laughing. Yuki and Kyo were fighting, but Tohru was singing to Kisa and Rei, I chatted with Momiji, the blonde haired boy. Then, all of a sudden, Kagura, (a cute girl with brown hair who was obsessed with Kyo) came running in from the front yard. Her rosy cheeks were pale. Her eyes were shining with fear. She grabbed Hatori and whispered frantically in his ear. The unemotional doctor's eyes flew open. He glanced at Rei with something akin to fear. Some of us had noticed what was going on. To be honest I think everyone did. But they kept making noise and laughing as if to cover up something. The room was thick with tension. Kyo shot a terrified glance at Rei and yanked her back onto the couch with him and Haru. Yuki whispered something to Tohru and her usually chipper face turned snow white before stammering back a small reply. I could hear faint footsteps coming up the path.

Hatori jumped up and quickly exited the house, trying to intercept whoever had made such an unexpected visit. I could hear the Sohma doctor talking quietly, but whoever had aroused such fear in the Sohmas had a voice to quiet to be heard. While Ayame kept shouting and laughing, he was looking at his younger brother in absolute horror. He was scared. But of what? Shigure trotted quickly over to us.

"Yuki. I want you to get Rei and Mateo out of here."

"But-"Yuki shot a frantic look at Tohru. Obviously he didn't want to leave her with the danger that seemed to be looming over us all. Kyo stepped in.

"I'll take care of her; he won't lay a finger on her." Oblivious to the conversation about her, Tohru was going around the room, informing everyone what was going on. Momiji was jumpy as a rabbit now. He kept glancing nervously at the door, behind which I could hear the sound of Hatori's voice getting closer. He sounded like he was trying to stall the person.

"Go!" Shigure shooed Yuki, Rei and I toward the back door. Suddenly, the door crashed open. Rei's emerald eyes were wide with a terror that I only saw when she had her space-outs. Kyo and Momiji launched themselves in front of Rei and I. Yuki stepped forward and stood in a protective stance right in front of Tohru. Shigure and Ayame were exactly the same as before. Kagura had shoved the sofa farther over (with amazing swiftness and strength) and Kisa was cowering behind it accompanied by Hiro who was holding her hand and squeezing so hard his own hand was pale as a ghost. Haru had moved to lean against the wall right next to the door. He shot me a look that said 'don't you dare make a single noise!'

In the doorway, standing in front of an impassive Hatori (whose dark eyes were flickering around the room taking in the people and glancing behind the wall of Sohmas to see a silently shaking Rei) was the very person that all these brilliant people feared.

"Welcome, Akito."